ZEPHYR – The No. 21 May Tigers owned a seven-point lead over the Lingleville Cardinals with 6:16 left in the first half, but a 28-2 run immediately followed to end the first half and start the second as head coach Justin Howard’s squad seized control en route to a 78-29 Class A Division I Region III bi-district championship Monday night.
“We played pretty good as a team and that’s what we’ve been trying to work on all through district and pre-district, working on team ball and what we have on the back of our jerseys, that ‘we before me’ mentality,” Howard said.
The Tigers, champions of District 21-A, were fueled by 24 points from Kobey Morris and 22 from Brody Stice, while Jackson Lusk chipped in 12 points.
“Brody moves the ball well, he sees the floor well and when he has to he shoots the ball well,” Howard said. “Kobey is a big guy in 1A that can shoot, that can pound the boards, that can contest any type of shot, he’s an all-around player that you love to have. And Jackson is one of our go-getters and our heart and soul, he just keeps the team moving, going, and flying.”
Also scoring for May were Kaden Watkins six points, Tyran Perry five points, Mikey Scheriger four points, Kayden Psencik with three points, and Brady Martin with two points.
Lingleville (7-23) received 13 points from Brody Hurt, 12 from Garrett Hurt, and four points from Hudson Guajard.
May led 16-6 after one quarter, 39-16 at halftime, and carried a 60-21 advantage to the fourth period. The Tigers’ lead reached 71-23 with 5:11 remaining, which is when May cleared its bench and the reserves finished off the victory.
The Tigers will face either District 23 runner-up Avalon (19-5) or District 24 third-place Neches (23-9), who square off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cross Roads High School, in the area round of the playoffs later this week.
Regarding the key to a deep playoff run for the Tigers, Howard said, “As long as we stick together, play good defensive ball along with our good offensive ball, and work as a team, we can make a long run.”
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Other Monday Local Basketball Playoff Scores
Girls Class 2A Division II Region IV Semifinal
Goldthwaite 51, Evadale 38
